The Manc is thrilled to announce that we’re the official media partner of Manchester’s largest entertainment venue.
The arena recently rebranded to the AO Arena as part of a sponsorship deal with the Bolton-based online electricals retailer AO, marking a period of regeneration for the iconic venue – which last year celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Now, as well as the famous green smile, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive money can’t buy experiences as well as on the spot ‘surprise and delight’ activations on the concourse, courtesy of the retailer.
As the UK’s most engaged local digital publisher with a total audience of over 1.5 million across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok, our media partnership with the AO Arena is a great fit – especially as we’re the only Manchester publication with a devoted music platform, The Manc Audio.
In a fitting celebration of the fact that Manchester’s music and its venues are unrivalled, we will use our reach to showcase this to the rest of the city and way beyond.
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The partnership also highlights our commitment to supporting Manchester’s music scene on all levels.
The Manc is the new official media partner of the AO Arena / Credit: AO Arena | The Manc Group
Speaking on the partnership, Anna Gledson – Managing Director of The Manc Group – said: “We’re absolutely made up to be the official media partner for the AO Arena. The AO Arena is such a huge part of our city’s entertainment and leisure landscape and attracts over a million people through its doors every year thanks to its unrivalled calendar of shows.
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“To have the opportunity to collaborate and partner with the Arena is super exciting and we can’t wait to work with them to shine a very bright spotlight on the incredible music we have in Manchester.”
James Allen – General Manager of the AO Arena – added: “This is an exciting partnership [and] we look forward to working collaboratively with The Manc on a variety of projects that will help accelerate Manchester’s recovery process.
“We have a packed calendar of events, with some real show-stoppers to look forward to and a first class platform to promote them on.”
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Known as ‘the people’s voice of Greater Manchester’, The Manc publishes content seven days a week, online and across a number of social media platforms, and has become a widely-recognised brand across the city for its news coverage, viral content, its various social channels, and its support of local Manchester businesses.
The Arena has welcomed the best bands, singers, musicians, and DJs from across the globe / Credit: The Manc x AO Arena
The Manc team has extensive experience and expertise in news, social media, content creation and publishing – with founding members of the team working for some of the country’s biggest social publications.
This experience has enabled The Manc to work on a number of city-wide campaigns with some of the biggest names in the hospitality, business and entertainment sectors in and around Greater Manchester.
The Manc Audio was launched in the summer of 2020 as the dedicated music branch of The Manc family, with the goal is to shine a spotlight on Manchester’s vibrant, world-renowned music scene, and the established and emerging talent to come from it.
By covering a wide variety of music genres, events, club nights and venues, The Manc Audio celebrates Manchester’s rich music heritage, as well as representing the very best of the city’s music offerings past, present and future.
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As The Manc Audio has grown, it has also launched a live music series – Frequencies.
Since the pilot episode back in February 2021, the series has received thousands of views on IGTV, and in September 2021, a live version of the event was held in front of an audience for the first time to huge success.
The Manc has worked on a number of city-wide campaigns with some of the biggest names in the hospitality, business, and entertainment sectors / Credit: The Manc Group x AO Arena
The arena has become an integral part of Manchester’s music scene since first opening its doors in 1995, and in its 26 years of operation, the venue has welcomed the best bands, singers, musicians, and DJs from across the globe to the heart of the city.
With a capacity of 21,000, the AO Arena has the highest capacity of any indoor venue in the UK.
And with more than a million people visiting the arena every year, it has landed itself the title of the busiest arena in the world on numerous occasions.
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Find more information about what’s happening at the AO Arena in 2021 here.
The ITV hype video for the 2026 World Cup has just done that – let’s make some memories
Danny Jones
We’ll admit, much like with Qatar ’22, there have been a few things about this upcoming World Cup that have made it harder to get in the mood than usual, but we must confess: ITV’s new opening titles for the 2026 edition have got us well and truly HYPED.
It’s funny what a quick little montage and some feel-good music can do.
Let’s face it, there are a lot of things about modern football we don’t like, and there are always going to be criticisms of FIFA and how they handle major tournaments, especially when it comes to the biggest international fixtures of them all.
Sadly, a lot of this is out of our control, but what we can do is our bit as supporters and get behind the boys; with trailers like this, it’s hard not to get yourself up for it…
How well you remember the customary title sequences for each tournament is usually a good barometer.
We have a feeling that this one is going to stick out in the memories of not just the kids enjoying maybe some of their first real major tournaments, but plenty of us adults, too.
The reaction online has been largely positive too, with popular football social media account, The 44, writing: “Oh my god! ITV have smashed it. Better or just as good as 2014”.
Another went on to say, “[It’s] mental how this one minute and nineteen second video has just made me incredibly excited for the World Cup. ITV know how to do an intro, don’t they?”
Furthermore, a third added: “Great intro. And FIFA might’ve messed everything up with 48 teams instead of 32 and blown it on ticket prices, but once the World Cup kicks off, there’s nothing like it.
With fewer fans being able to travel or even begin to remotely afford flying out for just one game, let alone the whole month, it’s great to see Manchester setting up big screens like these.
All that being said, there has, of course, still been lots of backlash over how hosting the World Cup in North America has been handled in general thus far.
Be it the plight of scammers, exorbitant ticket prices, punters and even referees being denied entry to the country due to President Trump’s travel sanctions, or the general political state over in the US, it’s far from a perfect year for ‘the beautiful game’ and its biggest competition.
However, it’s worth reminding that nations like Mexico have as strong an obsession with football as anyone on the planet, and Canada is clearly relishing the opportunity to host matches in Toronto and Vancouver, where footy is still their largest sport overall.
We expect there will still be plenty of protests and demonstrations, not to mention fairly public messages and statements up around the stadiums in the cities involved, no doubt, but one thing we can make sure of is that England will back the Three Lions both up in the stands and back here at home.
Those clips seen in the ITV video serve as yet another undeniable reminder that there is simply nothing like cheering on your country on the big stage, so make sure you lock down where to watch the World Cup in Manchester soon, and don’t miss a second of the action. It’s coming home.
Featured Images — ITV (screenshots)/Vincenzo Togni (via Wikimedia Commons)
News
Manchester City releases CGIs and important details of new ‘immersive’ museum
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City has revealed key information about its new museum experience designed to immerse visitors in the history and culture of the club.
Set to open later this year in the heart of the £300m Medlock Square entertainment district at Manchester’s Etihad Campus, the Manchester City Museum Experience will be spread across 10 distinctive spaces and visitors will be able to take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic environments from throughout the club’s history.
Fans can also take part in interactive media experiences, like posing with all 48 major trophies won by the club’s first teams or trying their hand at football punditry.
The experience will combine the latest immersive technology with physical memorabilia drawn from across the club’s history to do this.
Hidden details and surprising ‘did you know’ facts are set to be embedded across the experience, so that even the most devoted Man City fans will have the chance to discover something new about the club they love.
CGIs of what the new museum experience will look like when it opens have been released.
By combining interactive environments, technology, and authentic artefacts, the experience is aiming to appeal to a wide audience – from lifelong Manchester City supporters, to families and those with a broader interest in football, culture, and the city of Manchester.
“Building a completely new museum has allowed us to create an immersive experience that celebrates the people and moments which have shaped Manchester City,” commented Danny Wilson, Managing Director at Manchester City Operations.
“But our story isn’t traditional and straightforward, so why should our museum experience be? We want something different. Something immersive which will resonate with our fans, as well as excite the wider city.
Manchester City releases CGIs and important details of its new ‘immersive’ museum / Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
“In doing so, we have developed something that appeals to fans, complements the Etihad Campus and provides a year round attraction for the city.”
When it opens, the Manchester City Museum Experience is set to complement the club’s existing Stadium Tour – which is currently ranked among the top five visitor attractions in the UK, according to TripAdvisor reviews.
Further information about the museum experience – including booking details – will be shared ahead of its opening later in 2026 during the phased completion of Medlock Square.
Featured Image – Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
The Manc -
2nd November 2021 
